Modern German politicians have long prided themselves on being among Israel\u2019s fiercest supporters.<\/p>\n
But over the past several weeks, some politicians\u2019 frustration with Berlin\u2019s longtime ally has become palpable \u2014 a sign that support from Germany may be beginning to soften.<\/p>\n
Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, cabinet ministers and government press officials have used unusually pointed language in criticizing the Israeli government for its bombing of Lebanon, its new legislation on capital punishment aimed at Palestinians<\/a>, its conduct in Gaza and its expansion of settlements in the West Bank.<\/p>\n Support for Israel \u2014 underpinned by the painful history of the Nazis\u2019 massacre of more than six million Jews \u2014 has traditionally, in the postwar era, extended across mainstream political parties, especially among conservatives, no matter how isolating that position has been among other Europeans.<\/p>\n \u201cIsrael is a constant foreign policy pillar for postwar Germany,\u201d said Sudha David Wilp, the vice president and a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin. Now, she added, referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, \u201cGermans are not comfortable with Netanyahu\u2019s government\u2019s sort of no-holds-barred approach when it comes to securing Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n The shift in tone has come as other once-friendly European allies have turned away from Israel over attacks in Lebanon. Last week, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy announced that she would not renew<\/a> a longstanding defense agreement with Israel.<\/p>\n Germany has not gone that far and there are no indications that its extensive bilateral defense agreements with Israel are at risk. Germany did not join Britain, France and Canada last year in recognizing the state of Palestine, despite public opinion polls that suggested many voters in Germany were critical of Israel\u2019s war in Gaza.<\/p>\n The German government is also not pulling back on its official support for Israel. On Tuesday, Johann Wadephul, the country\u2019s foreign minister, announced that he would oppose proposed E.U. sanctions against Israel and the suspension of the bloc\u2019s association agreement with the Israeli state, an agreement that deepens trade relationships, diplomacy and research ties.<\/p>\n But rhetorically, times have changed in Germany. Mr. Merz made headlines last year when he publicly questioned the Israeli Army\u2019s objective in Gaza. His decision to temporarily suspend deliveries of offensive weapons to Israel for use in Gaza was widely criticized within his own party.<\/p>\n Here are some recent examples of issues that have spurred German criticism of Israel:<\/p>\n 1. Israel\u2019s Capital Punishment Law<\/p>\n